Shloka 1
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
/ [दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ह “लोक मिलाकर कुल ३४ ३ “लोक हैं।] डी >> श््य हि कक सप्तदशो<्ध्याय: अगस्त्यजीका इन्द्रसे नहुषके पतनका वृत्तान्त बताना शल्य उवाच अथ संचिन्तयानस्य देवराजस्य धीमत: । नहुषस्य वधोपायं लोकपालै: सदैवतैः
Śalya uvāca: atha sañcintayānasya devarājasya dhīmataḥ | nahuṣasya vadhopāyaṃ lokapālaiḥ sadaivataiḥ ||
ಶಲ್ಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ನಂತರ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತ ದೇವರಾಜ ಇಂದ್ರನು ಲೋಕಪಾಲಕರೂ ಸಮಸ್ತ ದೇವತೆಗಳೂ ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿ ಕುಳಿತು ನಹುಷನ ವಧೋಪಾಯವನ್ನು ಚಿಂತಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು।
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the restoration of cosmic order as a matter of thoughtful counsel: even divine power is shown acting through deliberation with responsible guardians, implying that authority should be guided by wisdom, consultation, and dharmic purpose—especially when confronting arrogance that threatens order.
Śalya begins recounting an episode: Indra, described as wise, is conferring with the Lokapālas and other gods to determine how to bring about Nahusha’s destruction/downfall. This sets the stage for the subsequent arrival of a sage and the unfolding of the plan against Nahusha.